Relative humidity (RH) is temperature-dependent. Air with 45% RH at 60° F does not have the same water content as air at 70° F with 45% RH. Stable temperature plays a key role in ensuring your Bedell guitar is humidified properly.

When you’re not playing your Bedell, return it to its case. The case gently and evenly supports the body, neck, and head of your guitar, which helps keep everything in proper alignment. Your instrument will be happy; you’ll be happy.

When cleaning your instrument after play, pay special attention to your fretboard to remove the oil residue left by your fingertips. When oil and dirt build up on your fretboard, it will become a bit “gummy,” and may require occasional cleaning and oiling.

The tuning machines on your guitar will need little, if any, maintenance beyond occasional lubrication. Mark your calendar twice a year to lubricate your open tuning gears. To do this, dab a tiny bit of petroleum jelly on the end of a toothpick and apply to the gears. Don’t apply too much or it will catch dust that will wear out the tuning machines.

Adjustments to truss-rod tension alter the relative straightness of the neck. While these adjustments may impact your action (or string-height), the height of the saddle is also a factor. If you suspect your neck angle may be impacting your string height, the wisest course of action is to take it to your guitar dealer or reputable repair specialist.

Your guitar strings will wear out. How quickly depends on how often and how long you play – and whether you wipe the strings with a cloth after each session. The oils from your fingers corrode the strings over time. How will you know when it’s time? You’ll notice your sound has lost its brilliance and has become a bit muffled. When this happens, replace the entire set of strings. Only replacing one will result in an unbalanced sound.

The luthiers at Bedell selected the perfect strings to compliment the body shape of your guitar. Should you desire different strings to accommodate your individual playing style, your steel-string acoustic guitar is designed for use with light- and medium-gauge strings. If you switch to lighter-gauge strings, you’ll likely need to have a reputable dealer adjust the bridge saddle and neck to avoid fret buzz.

No, we currently are not offering factory tours on a daily basis. While we do not sell instruments directly to the public, we do have a small showroom and a small number of instruments are usually available for you to play. Please use the contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule an appointment or call us at 888.234.2210

All Bedell tonewood is ethically and legally procured, meeting all CITES regulations and Lacey Act requirements for chain of custody. We guarantee that every 2014 and 2015 USA made Bedell guitar crafted out of wood from restricted species qualifies for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Guitar Passport and can be transported for performances throughout the world.

Temperature and humidity are critical factors in the life and playability of your acoustic guitar. Maintaining the appropriate humidity level will help to prevent cracks, stabilize tuning and increase the playability of your instrument. Humidity levels between 45% and 55% are considered optimum.
It is recommended that you store your acoustic guitar in its case when not in use. Do not store your guitar by a fireplace, heater, oven, in a car, in direct sunlight, or near any heat source. This will cause damage to your instrument by over-drying the wood below recommended humidity levels.
If you live in a dry environment, a simple room humidifier will work to keep your instruments hydrated at their proper levels. Combine the humidifier with a hygrometer to accurately read the humidity level in the room. Instrument humidifiers will also maintain proper humidity levels and are the surest way to know that your guitar is getting the proper amount of moisture. These are filled with water and typically sit either in your instrument or in your case to provide the optimum level of humidity, and are relatively inexpensive.
Routine maintenance and care on a regular schedule will also enhance the life and playability of your instrument. Get in the habit of wiping down your guitar with a soft cloth after use, and polish it every month or so. Cleaning removes sweat and dust, both of which work to corrode your instrument’s polish and wood, increasing the likelihood that your guitar will dry out. Use products that are designed for the specific parts and materials of your guitar. Make sure you use non-corrosive materials for your guitar cleaning. Never use rough cloths or household cleaners.

Although we do not recommend a specific brand, many of our employees have been happy with Meguiar’s # 7 Show car glaze for polishing surface scratches. If you have deeper scratches then you may need take your guitar into a technician to be buffed / sanded / then re-glossed. If you have a satin or semi gloss guitar, please do not use polish. When a polish is used on the satin it changes the appearance permanently creating gloss spots, the proper way to take care of this finish is simply to use a moist rag.

Wipe down your guitar with a soft cloth after use, and polish it every month or so. Using a very soft cloth and guitar or guitar polish will ensure your instrument maintains its natural oils. Cleaning removes sweat and dust, both of which work to corrode your instrument’s polish and wood, increasing the likelihood that your guitar will dry out. Use products that are designed for the specific parts and materials of your guitar. Note: Make sure you use non-corrosive materials for your guitar cleaning! Never use rough cloths or household cleaners.

Yes. At Bedell, our steel-string guitars are strung with D’Addario EXP16 light gauge strings. It is generally acceptable to go up or down one gauge, usually without the need to adjust your truss rod. However, a much heavier or lighter gauge of string will put varied amounts of tension on the neck so an adjustment may be needed. Allow some time for the guitar to settle after changing string gauges, and, if needed, have the truss rod adjusted by a qualified technician. WARNING: Over adjusting your truss rod can cause irreparable damage to your guitar and therefore truss rod adjustments should only be handled by a qualified guitar technician.